Long Wait Over For Turturro

For seven years, John Turturro has waited to play Primo Levi, the Italian writer whose experiences during World War II as a Jew in the Auschwitz death camp marked his life irrevocably.

``I never gave up,'' Turturro said. ``I knew I would do this film one day.''

The film, The Truce, based on Levi's memoir, opens in South Florida on Tuesday. Directed by Francesco Rosi (Three Brothers), the Miramax release deals with Levi's liberation from Auschwitz by Russian soldiers and his nine-month odyssey across ravaged Europe to his home. During the journey, Levi discovered what Rosi called ``the process of reawakening, of coming back to life, the reacquisition of hope.''

Turturro, whose films include Barton Fink and Quiz Show, lost more than 30 pounds to play the role and bears an uncanny resemblance to Levi. It was, by far, the most difficult challenge of his career, Turturro said.

``You had to express everything without too many words,'' he said. ``You had to react and observe; every movement has to be very small.''

Was it depressing? ``Instead of being depressed by the part, I felt freed by it, liberated,'' he said.